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| Landmark #56 | San Diego County | Visited: April 21, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | One of four hard-to-reach plaques at the Point Loma Naval Base! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Seeking the mythical Strait of Anián (the Northwest Passage) for Spain, on September 28, 1542, Iberian navigator Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo brought his three ships to Ballast Point, the first European landing on the coast of Alta California.
OTHER TIDBITS: Juan Cabrillo had been a crossbowman in Hernan Cortes’ campaign against the Aztecs in Mexico! After retiring from the military, he settled in Guatemala, married, had two sons, and developed a reputation as a ship builder. In 1542, the Viceroy of New Spain, Antonio de Mendoza, commissioned Cabrillo to explore the northwestern coast of the Pacific. Setting out on a ship he had built himself the San Salvador, Cabrillo’s crew sailed for 103 days until they arrived at what is today San Diego Bay! He named the bay San Miguel, which stuck for 60 years, before heading north as far as Monterey Bay, maybe Point Reyes, where the weather forced the expedition to turn back! They tried to spend the winter on the Channel Islands, but the natives weren’t so pleased about that. During a fight with them, Cabrillo fell, broke an arm, and died of complications on January 3, 1543. The expedition had to return home without him, but today you can still see a monument on San Miguel Island in his honor! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Base of Ballast Point S end of Rosecrans St, where historic markers are on a half circle U.S. Naval Submarine Base San Diego, CA 92106 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~122mi (197km) — 2.1hrs |
| When should I go? | The base is normally closed off to civilians, but there are certain events that will allow you to see the plaques, like the Battle of the Bay celebration on the third Saturday in April! |
